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lpdx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Animal cruelty, Blood, Death, and War
alexalily's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Gore, Violence, Grief, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and War
Minor: Kidnapping and Racism
hapalyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and War
schnaucl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Death, Murder, Violence, and War
Minor: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and Racial slurs
kaziaroo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The characters face a LOT of enemies in this book and it was hard to find hope or keep track of all the obstacles and adversaries buffeting them. Although there are the occasional moments of friendly banter, this is not a light-hearted read. The characters' situations and motivations were interesting though, even if I didn't always relate to or agree with them. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel and seeing how things wrap up.
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Genocide, and Grief
Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Toxic friendship, and Confinement
Minor: Physical abuse
booksthatburn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Nisong's conquest of the nearby islands is introduced and resolved. Technically she appeared in the first book, but the actual invasion and her tactics don't show up until this one. This isn't the last book, and it leaves open a bunch of interesting things. This include but are not limited to Jovis and Lin's relationship, further steps from the leader of the Shardless Few, the orphan girl Phalue and Ranami are helping, and Lin's next moves as emperor. The narrators are the same as the first book and (with the major exception of Nisong/Sand) are generally consistent with their earlier appearances. I highly recommend the audiobook. Having three narrators helped me keep track of the story and characters more easily, even though there are slightly more than three point-of-view characters.
Early on, Lin is exploring the rooms and items her father left behind by his death, trying to find a balance between getting information and holding on to herself. Later, Lin and Jovis begin moving around the islands on a tour of governors. This is in keeping with Jovis's wanderings in the first book, but it does make it feel a bit unmoored. The various plot threads are woven together expertly, with the common threat that more islands may sink. The romance between Jovis and Lin is a bit strange. There are the obvious issues, like how he entered her service as a spy and isn't sure yet where his loyalties lie. There's also a bit of fridge horror associated with Lin's identity which seems like it ought to trouble Jovis personally, but even once he figures it out he isn't dissuaded. I think I would have been more distressed in the same position, but I guess I'm not very much like Jovis.
A solid continuation of what's shaping up to be an amazing trilogy, don't miss this one if you like betrayal, fridge horror, and multilayered politics of an empire in crisis.
Graphic: Death, Blood, Violence, and War
Moderate: Cursing, Grief, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent, Infertility, Racism, Confinement, Animal cruelty, Child death, and Genocide
lizgriffinwords's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
CW: death, gore/blood, war
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: War
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
internationalreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Abandonment, Blood, Classism, War, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
mazomazli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual harassment
aardwyrm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I had trouble pinning down why I liked the book less than the first one. There's a forced, chemistry-free romance that doesn't suit either character. There's some real book-two-of-a-trilogy bloat, and a lot of the 500+ pages feel like wheel spinning. There's less about the more interesting POV characters from the first book and the secondary weirdos who have a lot of potential.
I finally realized that this just comes down to having way too much Jovis. He's always been the most boring man in the world, to be tolerated only because Mephi is there, and everything he does is dumb and wrong. Cut him and the pacing and plotting and trope use would tidy right up.
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Sexual harassment, Violence, and War